Tire-wheel carrier with angularly adjustable platform



Aug. 16, 1949. c CLARK TIRE-WHEEL CARRIER WITH ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM Flled Dec 8; 1947 November 26, 1946, Serial No. 712,451. cop-ending case I disclose an L-shaped swivel arm Patented Aug. 16, 1949 TIRE-WHEEL CARRIER WITH ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM Kenneth Clark, Watsonville, Calif.

Application December 8, 1947, Serial No. 790,417

7 Claims.

An object of-my invention is to provide a tirewheel carrier with angularly adjustable platform which is an improvement over the form of the invention shown in my copending application on a tire-wheel or tire rim assembly carrier, filed In the with an upright end journalled to the side of a chassis frame and horizontal end pivotally carrying a tire-wheel supporting platform. A channel-shaped army is welded 'to the center of the platform and its sides straddle the sides. of a channel-shaped anchorage bracket when the arm. is swung into closed position. The anchorage bracket is mounted on the sameside of the vehicle chassis as that which carries the journalled end of the arm.

'In certain cases it is desirous to journal the L-shaped awivel arm near the rear end of the vehicle and mount the anchorage bracket on the transverse frame. Frequently ;the transverse frame is disposed inside the rear ends of the side chassis channels and therefore the journaling of the swivel arm will be nearer the rear end of the chassis than will be the transverse frame. Where this occurs, the sides of the channelshaped arm carried by the platform will extend at an angle to the sides of the anchorage bracket at the completion of the swing of the arm into closed position and it will be impossible for the arm sidesto straddle the sides of the channelshaped bracket. v

The principal object ofv my invention is to pivotally mount the platiormonthe horizontal end of the swivel armso that the platform can be swung with respect tothe arm, about a vertical axis to align the sides of the arm supported by the platform with;the sides of the anchorage bracket and permit the platform arm to straddle the bracket. When the platform sup ports a tire and wheel, the operator can readily rotate the platform into the desired position by merely rotating the tire through an angle that will align the platform arm sides with the bracket sides and permit the nesting of the latter in the;

former.

A further object of niny invention is :to provide My, invention is illustrated .in the. accompany! ing drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a vehicle showing my device operatively applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the vehicle chassis showing my device connected thereto;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the wheelcarrying platform and platform-swinging arm;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the end of the swivel arm and shows the pivoted, U-shaped bracket for supporting the platform; and

Figure '7 is a rear elevation of a portion of Figure 1 and illustrates the tire and wheel in ground contacting position.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may bemade within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, 7

in carrying out my invention, I make use of a vehicle indicated generally at A and the vehicle has a chassis indicated at B, the chassis being provided with two side channels I and atransversely extending rear channel 2 whichis spaced from the rear ends Ia of the side channels I.

My device comprises a channel-shaped bracket C that has its sides 3 provided with feet 4 which are secured to the right-hand side channel I when I looking at Figure 1, by rivets 5 or other suitable fastening means, see also enlarged Figure 4. The

, bracket C extends below the bottom of the rightbearing D. Figure 4 shows the bearing connected to tl'ie interior of the channel C by lugs I and these lugs are integral with the outer surface of the bearing and are welded to the inner surface of the sides 3.

-Within the bearing D, I rotatably mount a swivel arm indicated generally at E. The arm is tubular in cross section and has an upright end 8 that is rotatably received in the tubular bearing D and this same end projects above the top of the hearing so as to receive a collar 9. The collar is connected to the end 8 by means of a pin ID that extends diametrically through the collar and through the end 8, as shown in Figure 74.. Cotter pins Il ma be extended through transverse openings in the pin 10 to prevent the pin from becoming dislodged. The collar 9 rides on the top of the bearing D and supports the swivel arm. Figure 3 shows another pin l2 extending through the end 8 and placed under the bearing D so as to hold the arm from any upward movement.

The swivel arm is L-shaped and its horizontal end l3 has a clevis I4 rigidly secured thereto by welding .l.5,. see, Fi ure 3. .ilhe clevis 14 carries a horizontally disposed pivot'pin l6 and the latter pivotally carries a U-shaped bracket F. Both Figures 3 and 6 show the bracket F provided with a bolt I! that projects through a central opening l8 provided in a tiltable platform G. see alsoFigure 5. A nut l9 secures the platform G to the bracket F. It will be seen from Figure 3 that.i he center of the platform G is spaced'slightly to the right of the pivot bolt l fiiwhentheplatiornris in tire and wheel supporting position.

In my copending application above referred'to, I show novel means for supporting either a disc wheel and tire or atire-and-r-im. Th platform G can be similarly constructed so as to support 'eitherthe disc wheel or tire and rim. In Figure 5, I indicatetheplatform'as-having a plurality ofopen-ings Zilarranged-in a-circle for receiving bolts 2!, se'e 'Figur'e 1,-that are used for connecting' the disc Wheel I-I and tire I-Il to the platform. It is possible to rotate thewheel-I-I andplatform 'auni t about the bolt Ilas a pivot for a, purpose now to be described. Of course,-the -platform and wheel can -swing about the horizon'tally disposed pivot pin It in order to'swing 'thetire Hli into contact with'the ground 22, see -Figure 7.

I provide a platform s'w-inging arm and wheel guide Jwhich is-channel shaped-in crosssection aind-hasit's lower'e'nd welded at 23 to the upper surface of the platform G, -:see-F igure The 'channel=shaped arm J is'designed'to straddle a.

ehan-nehshaped anchor bracket- K' when the swivel arm E is in closed-- position; The anchor bracket issecuredyto the transverse channel 2 =by -riv'ets*': 24 or other suitable fasteningmeans. Figure 3 shows the bracket K having its-Web portion' 25 provided with a pair of outwardlyextend- 1 m tud' -25, -These studs are receivedin open- ;--ings ZT-(seeFigure "ll provided 'inrthe arm J and then -nuts -28 are threaded on the-studsyfor securing the arirrto the bracket.

From-the foregoin-g description ofthe various ;--parts of- :the-device; -the operation thereof; may be readily understood.

When'mountin a tire and wheel on the car- "rien-the swivel arm E is first swung intoopen positionandl-thenthearm'J is-swunginto a; substantially horizontal position, thelatterswingi-: ing-movement taking i place about the pivot pin .fl.iB,::S6 Figure 7."T-he wheel andtire ar now cirpassedziover ithewarm" J and a the wheel is coni.nected to t-hel platform G which is in a substan-.: otiallyrvertical: position; by the-bolts 2| orother .:.:suitable-iastening means. The swivel-arm E-may take the position shown in Figure Twhen-securingrthe-wheelvin place, or :the arm E may be :swung into an positionwhereits-horizontal end.. 1.:'l3; w;ill-' extend in the-same directionas the length erofzthasideichannel 15170: which it is attached.

z'illhezlp fitformjG;is pivotally secured to "the 'sih qket E- by the-iboltal 1 :end'the .bolt: is mounted to oneside ofst emiyot pin;l6 so as to makeit-he.; ..-;top ;of;w the tire; and wheel slightly heavier :-than he ;lower.:portion. ,The:;operator.:can, therefore, 1; :Qasily swingthe arm J for causing the platform giG toi-imovegfrom a -;substantially:verticalposition pinto ashoriaontalmoeition. as;showm:-'Fig-urei 3:1.

The arm E is now swung about its vertical axis for moving the platform arm J toward the anchorage bracket K. This movement is indicated in Figure 2 and in Figure 4 I illustrate by the dot-dash lines the relative position of the platform and the arm J with respect to the anchorage bracket K when the platform is not swung about thaibolt. I1. [Lhis dot-dash line position plearly shows hpw thegsides 29 ,of-the arm J cannot straddle the sides 30 of the bracket K unless the arm is swung about its longitudinal axis. It

' is necessary to swing the platform and the arm J aboutzthe-verticaliaxis of the bolt ll to align the ..'-ar-ni .l-swith the bracket K. This swinging movelsament can be. accomplished by the operator r0- tating"the wheel and tire. By this simple ar- '.-arrangements therarm J can be moved onto the bracketK and the studs 26 will enter the openings-2l.' The two parts are secured together by the nuts 28.

When-removingflahe tirewheelirom the ca ri r, :t .-.r v -.nperation' is "carried out from that st explained. tAlthoughvl-ligure '7 shows the tire' H I extendingaviertically :wi-threspe ct to the g-rgroundizz, itiszpossibleitoihave theplatform G inclinedrslightlyiironiithe vertical when the tire touchesithergtoundzioriaidinglin: connecting the tire-andiwheel toithe platform.

.21 Il claimi i 1*. :In aetir'eicarrieriaswivel bracket; means'for 1 securingithi i'lbracket-ito a chassis vframe in an 1 uprightposition';ia substantially L' shaped swivel arrmhaving acneend thereof rotatably supported i "';ili?thekswivl bracketanddts-iree end arranged 5E120! :swin'ginglin a 'substantially horizontal plane; aitplatformsupportingmember arranged at the free end of the swivel arm for swinging about a horizontal :axis aiiplatform carried by the mem- -berl-anda being a-swingabletrtherewith' from a sub- 40 stantiallyt vertical position into a horizontal posix 'tion;.econneetingomeansz between the platform .-..-.an'd'- memberw-iorvperm-itting. the i platform to be .urotatedilabout awertical axis when the platform zi'siinaiihorizontaleiposition; the platform being 5:adapteditto support a tire-wheel assembly; a chan'iieleshapediiarm extending :from the platform.-pa-ssing hrough the tire-whee1 assembly; 'ani anchorage bracketi also-secured to the chassis frames and including; a channel shaped crossj issectionaleportiony:the anchorage bracket being ==.-mounted:swithirr the:radius -or-swing or -the free end of the swivel arm; the flanges and web of fithe :channe1-'-shaped arnre. being movable into a .eposltion to: embraceand contact the channelshapedanchorage bracket ;'-the "plate being rotat- --ieble toialigmthe arm fianges -with the anchorage ci bracket sides.

3' 2.11m av tire -carrierp a swivelbracket-means ion-securingrthis bracket' to a=chassis frame in an mpr-ightposition; a substantially L -shaped swivel arm havingwone' end thereof 'rotatably supported in"the iswivelsbracket :and it'sfree end arranged for-I-swi-nging in a 'substantially horizontal plane; is a.platformzssupporting memberarranged at the 5:.-f-ree end-.-i:of' the swivei 'arni for'swinging about a horizontal axis; a platform carried by the memeberi and sbeing swingable' therewith from a substan'tiallyyertical position into ahorizontal posiion connecting rneans= between the-platform and member for permitting theplatformtobe i rotated about avventical axis when the platform ?:'.-;is'z;inaahorizontal Jposition: :the platform being ia adapted-stog sup ports as tire-wheel assembly; a

channel-shaped arm extendingfrom the plat- 7 diformapassingi through -theti-re -wheel assembly;

; an anchorage bracket also secured to the chassis frame and including a channel-shaped crosssectional portion; the anchorage bracket being mounted within the radius of swing of the free end of the swivel arm; the flanges and web of the channel-shaped arm being movable into a position to embrace and contact the channel-shaped anchorage bracket; the plate being rotatable to align the arm flanges with the anchorage bracket sides; studs fixed to the anchorage bracket to extend therefrom; said channel shaped arm having openings for receiving the studs when the channel shaped arm contacts the anchorage bracket; and nuts threaded onto the stud portions projecting beyond the channel shaped arm.

3. In a tire carrier; a swivel bracket; means for securing the bracket to a chassis frame; a swivel arm having one end rotatably supported in the swivel bracket and its free end swingable into a position within the area defined by thechassis frame; an anchorage bracket carried by the chassis frame; the anchorage bracket being mounted within the radius of swing of the free end of the swivel arm; a tire-wheel assembly supporting platform carried by the swivel arm and being rotatable about a vertical axis; an arm connected to the platform and haVing a face adapted to contact with a surface of the anchorage bracket; the platform being rotatable for the purpose of bringing the face portion of the platform arm into complete contact with the adjacent surface of the anchorage bracket; and means for connecting the platform arm to the anchorage bracket.

4. In a tire carrier; a swivel bracket; means for securing the bracket to a chassis frame; a swivel arm having one end rotatably supported in the swivel bracket and its free end swingable into a position within the area defined by the chassis frame; an anchorage bracket carried by the chassis frame and being channel-shaped in cross section; the anchorage bracket being mounted within the radius of swing of the free end of the swivel arm; a tire-wheel assembly supporting platform carried by the swivel arm and being rotatable about a vertical axis; a channels-haped arm connected to the platform and adapted to receive the channel portion of the anchorage bracket when the platform-carrying arm is swung into closed position; the platform being rotatable for aligning the channel arm with the sides of the channel-shaped anchorage bracket; and means for connecting the channel arm to the anchorage bracket.

5. In combination; a swivel arm having one end rotatably connected to one side of a chassis frame and near the end thereof; the swivel arm having a free end; a channel-shaped anchorage bracket secured to a transverse frame member of the chassis that is spaced in from the end; the anchorage bracket being mounted within the radius of swing of the free end of the swivel arm; a tire and wheel supporting platform rotatably carried by the free end of the swivel arm; a channel-shaped arm carried by the platform and being swingable by the swivel arm into contact with the anchorage bracket; the platform being rotatable for aligning the channel-shaped arm with the anchorage bracket so that the channelshaped portion of the latter will nest within the channel arm; and means for securing the channel arm to the anchorage bracket.

6. In combination; a swingably mounted swivel arm having a cl'evis on its free end; a U-shaped bracket pivotally carried by the clevis and having a support spaced to one side of the pivotal connection between the bracket and the clevis; a platform rotatably carried by the support; a channel-shaped arm carried by the platform; a channel-shaped anchorage bracket mounted Within the radius of swing of the free end of the swivel arm and adapted to be received in the channel-shaped arm; and means for removably connecting the channel-shaped arm to the anchorage bracket.

'7. The combination with a chassis frame having a side member and a transverse member spaced in from the end of the side member; of a swivel bracket secured to the side chassis frame member near the end thereof; an anchorage channel-shaped bracket secured to the transverse member; an L-shaped arm rotatably supported at one end in the swivel bracket, the other end being free and swingable toward the anchorage bracket; the anchorage bracket being mounted within the radius of swing of the free end of the swivel arm; a U-shaped bracket pivotally connected to the'free end of the L-shaped arm and swivel arm swings the platform toward the Number anchora e bracket; the platform being rotatable on the swivel arm for aligning the channel arm with the channel portion of the anchorage bracket; and means for securing the channel arm to the anchorage bracket.

7 KENNETH C. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 353,223 Great Britain July 23, 1931 

